She left nothing undone, that the creature could do, to soften the stroke of separation. While she herself stood, as the pigeon on the house-top, ready
“To clap the glad wing, and tower away,
To mingle with the blaze of day;”
her longing desire for that hour was frequently expressed by her exclaiming; “O! my God, when shall I come to thy dear bosom!” At another time she would say, “My Jesus, and my all, I pant to see thee as thou art; O come, and take me to thy loving breast.” But, to write all her lively animating expressions, would fill volumes: I must therefore desist from recording any more of them, and conclude this account (which I have many times wished some abler hand had been the writer of,) by mentioning, that at the beginning of her christian warfare, she saw, as a plan for her life, the words of the apostle Paul to Timothy, 1st Epistle, chap. v. verse 10: “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” And here I cannot but appeal to all you who have known her, whether her life has not agreed with this description, which she took as a rule for her conduct. Is she not well reported of for good works? has she not brought up children? has she not lodged strangers? has she not washed the saints’ feet? has she not relieved the afflicted, and diligently followed every good work? These things you know she has done; yea, has she not been abundant therein? But did she value herself upon any of all the works of righteousness she wrought? No, by no means. All her salvation she ever ascribed to him who had loved her, and washed her in his own most precious blood: therefore, with delight she would often repeat,
“Because that I can nothing do,
Jesus, do all the work alone;
And bring my soul triumphant through,
To wave its palm before the throne.”
I must now conclude: but not without fervently praying, that the zeal, diligence, love, and humility, with all that faith in and active dependence upon the Saviour, that was in her, may dwell richly in each of you: and trusting that I also shall be interested in your prayers, that an abundant entrance may be administered unto me into the kingdom of our God and Saviour, after that I have for a little longer done and suffered his righteous will; that so I may overtake my company that’s gone before, and safely arrive “where all the ship’s company meet, who sailed with the Saviour beneath.”
Waiting for that happy day,
I remain,
Your affectionate friend, and willing servant, in Christ,
MARY TOOTH.
The following hymn of Mr. Newton’s, being very expressive and suitable to the occasion, was sung at Madeley, when the above letter was read there.